7 Couples Who Re-Define Commitment, Because Strict Monogamy Isn't The Only Way To Go

Every public couple that espouses not-necessarily-monogamous views on marriage helps to slowly dispel the stereotype of marriage (or life partnership) as two sets of genitals tied together 'til death do you part. As this not-so-new practice is embraced by those in the public eye (celebrities: they're just like us!) that couple you know with the bad reputation might not seem so radically sleazy after all. Just look at what happened when celebrities started speaking out about feminism. Imagine if more stars actually came clean about their romantic "arrangements"?

While what you do with your partner is nobody's business but your own, I give major props to public figures who are willing to fight stigma by opening up about their unconventional relationships and relationship views. Even fictional characters living non-monogamous lifestyles can impact how people view this choice. While some of these celebs are tight-lipped about their intimate details, beyond critiquing monogamy itself, it's still a big step for public folk to acknowledge alternative ideas of partnership. The more we see diverse representations of romantic commitments, the more the rest of us can feel more comfortable embracing life outside strict monogamy. These couples are proof that a successful coupling doesn't have to be about committing to traditional relationship roles.

1. Tilda Swinton and John Byrne

Actress Tilda Swinton caused some clucking tongues when she showed up at The Oscars a few years ago with her lover and not the father of her children. She has children with playwright Byrne and enjoys time with painter Sandro Kopp as well. Of Byrne she said, "We ostensibly live in the same house, but I travel the world with another delightful painter. The arrangement is just so sane."

2. Mo'Nique and Sidney Hicks

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Academy Award winning actress Mo'Nique has been very candid about the ins and outs of her marriage. Having sex outside her relationship with Sidney Hicks is not something she worries about, as fidelity doesn't define their connection. In an interview with Barbara Walters she said: “Could I have sex outside of my marriage with Sidney? Yes. Could Sid have sex outside of his marriage with me? Yes. That’s not a deal breaker."

6. Claire Underwood and Francis Underwood

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Granted, Francis and Claire Underwood are not a real couple, but their non-monogamy is known to anyone who watches House of Cards. The Senator and his wife each see other people, both men and women, and even had a hot threesome with a Secret Service agent last season. Once they hit the White House, who knows what (or who) they'll do.

7. Maria Bello and Clare Munn

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Actress Maria Bello penned a story about her nuanced approach to relationships in The New York Times. "My feelings about attachment and partnership have always been that they are fluid and evolving," she wrote. She is currently in a relationship with Clare Munn, but her approach to romantic connections remains non-traditional. “Whomever I love, however I love them, whether they sleep in my bed or not, or whether I do homework with them or share a child with them, ‘love is love.’”